Call to halt PAVA Spray Football, poems and high “The confusion adds to the “The POA are already now climbing in Dartmoor strain, anxiety, depression asking for Tasers. What next? and sense of hopelessness Rachel Billington highlights that overrides an IPP.” the National Newspaper for Prisoners & Detainees Sidearms? Rifles in conning the ups and downs of 2018 Steve Newark towers on perimeters?” a voice for prisoners since Comment // page 16 Comment // page 28 John Podmore January 2019 / Issue No. 235 / www.insidetime.org / A ‘not for profit’ publication / ISSN 1743-7342 An average of 60,000 copies distributed monthly Independently verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations Newsround // page 12 HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS FREE TO WORK! Over four hundred businesses now registered with government to train and employ prisoners 11 and prison leavers to benefit them and society Credit: brianmasonphotography.co.uk l Newly-registered l New £250,000 con- l Focus on rehabilita- businesses could join struction academy to tion through work to Knife Angel brings hope more than 300 already provide qualifications cut £15 billion cost of Sculpture known as the ‘Knife Angel’ on display at the Anglican Cathedral in working in prisons to prisoners reoffending Liverpool. The Knife Angel has been created by artist Alfie Bradley “as a national monument against violence and aggression and as a memorial to victims”. Lives which are among more than 300 around the UK al- ready seeing the benefits of employing those with a crim- inal record. MICHAEL PURDON SOLICITOR Having registered their inter- est, the businesses will now SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED AN work with the Ministry of Jus- tice to explore how to take forward their relationship EXPERT with prisons. Justice Secre- tary David Gauke is optimis- tic about the take up. “I PAROLE - RECALL Timpson prison Barber shop academies, “coming soon” passionately believe that Credit: James Timpson building up offenders’ skills PRE-TARIFF REVIEWS Inside Time report The interested businesses and helping them into work span a range of sectors, in- encourages them to turn their cluding construction and re- backs on crime, benefiting CAT A REVIEWS-TARIFF REVIEWS One hundred and twenty tail, and they could join them and society as a whole. more businesses have come employers such as Virgin I am delighted that so many forward since the launch of Trains, DHL and Recycling businesses are recognising the government’s Education the value of giving ex-offend- NATIONWIDE SERVICE and Employment Strategy six ers a second chance and a job Founding members, serving for 3 years as months ago, which set out a - their interest sends a clear series of measures to boost message that if they work Chair and Deputy Chair of the Association prisoners’ skills while in cus- hard and behave well in of Prison Lawyers tody and improve their chances prison then real opportuni- of securing work on release. ties await them. I would en- A major focus of the strategy courage more businesses to CALL US: 0191 232 1006 is to encourage a culture consider getting involved in change within companies so © Deposit Photos our New Futures Network.” VISIT: purdonlaw.co.uk EMAIL: [email protected] that they see beyond a pris- David Gauke: “Benefiting oner’s conviction to their po- prisoners and society as a From cutting keys to cutting 7 New Square, Lincolns Inn, tential as an employee. whole.” hair page 14 LONDON: London, WC2C 3QS (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY) NEWS FLASH! England and Wales: ‘More than twice as many NEWCASTLE: Wards Buildings, 31-39 High Bridge, serving indeterminate sentences than France, Germany and Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 1EW Italy combined! Highest in Europe ‘by significant margin’. 10 2 Mailbag ‘Mailbag’, Inside Time, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Insidetime January 2019 insidetime Time for real education Where’s Mailbites a voice for prisoners since 1990 Brad Convoy - HMP Preston the support? The bad apples the national newspaper for prisoners published by Accessing education and constantly striving to better your- Name withheld - Phil Green - HMP Buckley Hall Inside Time Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of self should be a constant both in jail and when on the road. The New Bridge Foundation, founded in 1956 to HMP Northumberland Experience has shown me that the vast create links between the offender and the However, I’m starting to have more and more doubts that majority of prison officers are very decent, community. I have genuine concerns prisons even encourage this ethos. Most of the courses on have self-respect, respect for the job and are about being released as I A not for profit publication. offer have no real vocational use. Level 2 qualifications serve respectful to prisoners. Then there are the few will be homeless. All this Inside Time is wholly responsible for its editorial no real purpose. They have little value outside prison life megalomaniacs; they have no respect for content. Comments or complaints should be and, perhaps more importantly, they aren’t taught in such a nonsense about ‘see your anyone or anything, let alone themselves. directed to the publisher and not to New Bridge. way as to raise morale and self-worth. OMU’ or ‘speak to Shelter’ or No self-respecting, dignified officer would ‘put a general app into NE- consider carrying PAVA spray. If you see an Board of Directors It’s very important to realise that courses do not have to al- PACS’ is a waste of hot air. officer carrying PAVA spray in the future, don’t ways lead to jobs. The purpose of education is twofold, to At this prison you may as get angry; just cuddle him. Trevor Grove Former Editor Sunday Telegraph, well be talking to a brick Journalist, Writer and former Magistrate. help better your prospects, but also to improve your self- Dr Peter Bennett Trustee, New Bridge worth and exercise your mind. This requires an environment wall because nothing ever Backlash Foundation and former Governor of HMP Grendon to be fostered that encourages an eagerness to learn, the abil- happens. We get fobbed off Geoff Hughes Former Governor of HMP Belmarsh ity to be able to answer incorrectly and not be mocked, and constantly. It’s a sick joke. Evan Prevett - HMP Lewes John D Roberts Former Company Chairman and engaging courses that prisoners’ value. We do not get that. Can I just ask all of the prisoners who have Managing Director employing former prisoners Sodexo is a laughing stock, lately been writing to Inside Time with letters Louise Shorter Former producer, BBC Rough Justice On the road, if you think of what characteristics are valued Alistair H E Smith BSc FCA Chartered Accountant, and I wouldn’t be at all sur- after their names to get a grip? Congratulations, Trustee and Treasurer, New Bridge Foundation and prized you would say ‘intelligence, communication prised if the MoJ had to you’re clearly well educated and have worked skills, team-leading and strength of character’. In prison how move in and take control of hard to gain your qualifications. But there is many of these attributes are favourable? Maybe strength of this place. There is clearly something narcissistic about your need to The Editorial Team character. Instead we value strength of arm, ability to inspire not enough help for those shove this in our faces. Remember your fear or simply the size of the man. Prisoners are terrified of being discharged - espe- audience. The 90,000 prisoners who read this embarrassing themselves in front of other inmates and look- cially if they have mental paper do not care about your qualifications, ing weak. health problems. We get even less so when your letter is absolutely nothing to do with the subject your letter is about. So, the idea of getting a maths question wrong in front of kicked to the kerb and left to their classmates means they will probably stay quiet. Look at fend for ourselves, with no Erwin James John Roberts Rachel the makeup of your wing workers. I guarantee many of them accommodation, no license Caught up in the paranoia Editor in Chief Publisher and Billington OBE are educated, quieter prisoners doing unfavourable jobs, and back on the street. CK Jones - HMP Parc Director Associate Editor whereas the stronger, tougher or even sneakier prisoners My girlfriend writes to me a lot, and 3 of her have ingratiated themselves into positions of authority, made No wonder so many ex-pris- letters have been stopped due to ‘suspicion of Commercial possible by the staff who appease them in order to maker oners are being recalled/re- LSD’ in them. This, I can assure you, is obvious- Manager their own lives easier. turned to prison as our ly a mistake. I have put in 6 complaints David Roberts justice system is failing to regarding this matter and yet none have been Head of Whilst these issues exist, there will always be obstacles to help those who really need replied to. My girlfriend has been ringing the Administration education behind these bars. housing, help and support. Justine Best jail every day asking for the evidence, proof or Noel Smith Paul Sullivan Layout & Design something. Obviously if we had something to Commissioning Reporter Colin Matthews hide, I’d be putting my head in the sand and Editor Website Design waiting for it to blow over. Has anyone else and Advertising had these problems, and how do you go about Gary Bultitude sorting it out? Correspondence General: Inside Time Botley Mills, Botley, Safer custody praise Southampton, Hampshire SO30 2GB. Louis Burdett - HMP Swaleside Accounts & Admin: Inside Time, PO Box 251, Hedge End, Hampshire SO30 4XJ.